Story of G.I. Joe ( War Correspondent )

Story of G.I. Joe (DVD) (*)

$32.99

Alternate Title: War Correspondent
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Oscar Academy Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
108 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White

Movie filmed in 1945 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
William A. Wellman

Written By:
Leopold Atlas
Guy Endore

Actors:
Burgess Meredith ..... Ernie Pyle / Narrator
Robert Mitchum ..... Lt. / Capt. Bill Walker
Freddie Steele ..... Sgt. Steve Warnicki
Wally Cassell ..... Pvt. Dondaro
Jimmy Lloyd ..... Pvt. Spencer
John R. Reilly ..... Pvt. Robert 'Wingless' Murphy
William Murphy ..... Pv. Mew
Sicily and Italy Combat Veterans of the Campaigns in Africa ..... Themselves
Don Whitehead ..... Himself (A.P.)
George Lait ..... Himself (International News Service)
Chris Cunningham ..... Himself (U.P.)
Hal Boyle ..... Himself (A.P.)
Jack Foisie ..... Himself (Stars and Stripes)
Bob Landry ..... Himself (Life)
Lucien Hubbard ..... Himself (Readers Digest)

Synopsis:

The Story of G.I. Joe was based on the columns of Scripps-Howard war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Though already past 40, Pyle insists upon marching along with an Army infantry unit during the Italian campaign. He befriends several of the soldiers, including commanding officer Robert Mitchum (his breakthrough role), family man Freddie Steele and would-be romeo Wally Cassell. The 'plot' of the film is moved forward by the progression of the war itself; basically, however, G.I. Joe is an anecdotal collection of comic, dramatic and tragic vignettes. Some of the more memorable moments include Freddie Steele's ongoing efforts to listen to a recording of his infant son's voice; Mitchum's casual reactions to his many field promotions; and a wedding ceremony which is 'punctuated' by an air raid. Many infantry veterans consider The Story of GI Joe to be the single most realistic Hollywood war film of the 1940s, eschewing big stars, phony heroics and overblown battle sequences in favor of the everyday trials and tribulations of the humble foot soldier. Ironically, Ernie Pyle, who acted as technical adviser (when he wasn't busy on the front), was killed by an enemy sniper shortly before the release of this film.

Burgess Meredith plays Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who lived with soldiers on the front lines to report their stories. THE STORY OF G.I. JOE focuses on Pyle's time with Company C of the 18th Infantry and its journey from the desert of North Africa to Italy, where it took part in the march towards Rome. Meredith plays Pyle with simple dignity as he witnesses and records the goings-on. The film utilises an effective mix of real-life GIs and talented actors. Director William Wellman has created an unsentimental and honest portrayal of the brutal and harrowing lives of Pyle's infantry soldiers in a World War II movie that is beloved by veterans.

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States. Later, he catches up with the unit in Italy and accompanies it through the battles of San Vittorio and Cassino. He learns from its commanding officer, Lt. (later Capt.) Bill Walker of the loneliness of command, and from the individual G.I.'s of the human capacity to survive drudgery, discomfort, and the terror of combat.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 25 November, 2010.